End of the line for Normanside

The Normanside Country Club won't be opening its doors next season, at least not under the same structure it has for decades now.

Long facing financial burdens, the club and its property will be sold at auction this month. The club had tried to find a buyer to take over and keep the Delmar property a golf course, but the future is unclear now, said President of the Normanside Country Club Board of Governors Dan Byrnes.

We're hopeful that that group will operate the premises as a golf course...but it certainly could be someone looking to put houses up there, he said.

The property would have to be rezoned if housing development was to occur there.

During the peak season, the club usually employed around 60, Byrnes said, and contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars in local property and sales taxes. At last count, the club had about 240 members.

The Bank of America will accept bids through Feb. 23.

Normanside had for months been trying to boost membership with deep discounts. It also revamped its dining room last year, outsourcing operations to Panza's of Saratoga Springs. The dining room had its last service in late January.

Byrnes said he still has hopes the Normanside property will remain a golf course or club, but country clubs everywhere have been struggling in the economic downturn. The club was unable to find a buyer who could continue oeprations.

"The club had been working since October with the bank to find a new owner of the property," Byrnes said. "We worked really hard.""